1. Diversifying Sustainable Tourism Keron Niles, PhD Caribbean Green Economy Conference 24 February, 2015 Session 5: Identification of Enabling Conditions for Green Economy

2. Common Challenges High input costs (energy, water, waste management) Energy costs usually high & volatile (except in Trinidad & Tobago) Water: high cost and resource constraints exist Strain on environmentally sensitive areas offering similar and competing products e.g. coral reefs, coastline areas

3. Solutions for Sustainable Tourism Need to diversify Caribbean tourism product Thrust toward diversification has already begun Emphasis must be placed on marketing and promoting sustainable local small-to-medium- sized tourism enterprises and initiatives Smaller, less resource-intensive, community-based tourism service providers have limited access to domestic and international markets

4. Solutions for Sustainable Tourism Need to expand data collection & increase quantitative studies Tourist arrivals along with hotel and restaurant GDP contribution remain the primary proxy for the evaluation of the performance of the sector Need for sound indicators that include, local employment, procurement, poverty and environmental impacts in order to propel data- driven strategies to green the sector The Economics of Ecosystem Services (TEEB)

5. Sustainable Tourism: Approach of the Economic Development Board of Trinidad & Tobago

6. About the EDB and CCI Economic Development Board (EDB) and Council for Competitiveness and Innovation (CCI) Both Government funded, public-private sector operated advisory bodies to the Minister of Planning and Sustainable Development Established in 2011 Operating since 2012 EDB Core Mandate: Oversee the diversification strategy (7 industry clusters) Develop the 5 economic growth poles CCI Core Mandate: Improve national competitiveness Build national capacity for innovation Supporting development of NIP & NIS

7. Food Energy Creativity Maritime Tourism Financial Services ICT 7 Industrial Clusters5 Growth Poles North Coast Trinidad (Sustainable Development) East Port of Spain (Urban Regeneration) Central (Industrialisation) Southwest Peninsula (Industrialisation) North East Tobago (Sustainable Development) EDB: Diversification Clusters and Growth Poles

8. Clusters for Diversification Import Substitutio n Exports ICT Financial Services Education & Training Infrastructure Research & Development Intellectual Property Enablers

9. Growth Pole Strategy & Sustainable Tourism

10. North Coast: Trinidad  The EDB commissioned two studies to support economic development of the region:  A Land Use Plan to guide the current and future development of the North Coast and  Economic Assessment of the export competitiveness of products and services available in the area.

11. Sustainable Tourism: North Coast Trinidad  Agriculture, fishing and tourism are the main economic activities in the area (Las Cuevas, Rincon Estate  Land Use Study objectives were to:  develop a land use vision and plan,  designate land use restrictions for various parcels of land (zoning) and  propose infrastructural developments focussed on a transportation network.

12. Sustainable Tourism: North Coast Trinidad  Economic Assessment of the Traded and Non-Traded sectors sought to :  present an inventory of North Coast assets from which opportunities for sustainable development can be derived.  identify the necessary prerequisites for transforming the competitive advantages of these assets into viable development opportunities.

13. North Coast Trinidad: Way Forward  Studies point to the need to :  make greater use of the area’s rich historical and cultural heritage through restoration of historical sites and provision of designated spaces for cultural performances and festivals  Improvement of infrastructure and greater community involvement for eco-tourism activities

14. Sustainable Tourism: North East Tobago  Relevant Development Plans:  Medium Term Policy Framework 2011-2014  Tobago Comprehensive Economic Development Plan (CEDP) 2013 - 2017  Primary Economic Drivers:  Eco-Tourism and Agriculture  Key Regions under consideration:  Charlotteville  Speyside  Main Ridge Forest Reserve (World Heritage Site - Tentative List)

15. Sustainable Tourism: North East Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve is home to:  24 non-poisonous snakes,  16 lizards  ocellated gecko (found only in Tobago)  210 species of birds  particularly the White-tailed Sabrewing Hummingbird - that is both rare and endemic to Tobago.

16. Sustainable Tourism: North East Tobago  Significant interest exist (on the part of the private sector and the community) in:  Ecotourism (particularly with regards to high-end boutique hotel tourism)  Science Tourism  Agro Tourism  Serves to encourage sustainable agriculture & forestry

17. Sustainable Tourism: North East Tobago  Recommendations include the development of:  high-end (luxury) eco-lodges (particularly cottages and villas)  allows for co-existence with and appreciation of natural environment (particularly bird watching)  A Biological Research Institute  An Estate Conservation Trust  an entity that will serve as an intermediary between the private sector, the community and the public sector  Revival of cocoa and agricultural estates

18. Sustainable Tourism: Central Trinidad Cultural/Heritage Tourism Pilot Project  The EDB is currently developing a viable one day tourism circuit of cultural and heritage sites for international and local visitors in the 4Cs Growth Pole in Trinidad  (4C’s = Charlieville, Chaguanas, Couva, Carapichaima)

19. Sites being considered Carapichaima Masjid Indian Caribbean Museum Hanuman Murti and Dattreya Yoga Ashram Temple in the Sea and Isaac Yankeran Cremation Site San Antonio Cocoa Estate Tortuga RC Church Sugar Village and Heritage Museum (Caroni) Chase Village Pottery Lion House

20. Benefits of this approach  Opportunities for community involvement  Tourism Product is Less natural resource- intensive and extractive  Product is reflective of Multicultural Heritage & Identity of T&T  (a Unique Selling Point of T&T)  Diversifies National Tourism Product

21. Summary  Caribbean Tourism Destinations facing similar challenges  Need to focus on Tourism products that are less natural resource-intensive and extractive  Need to involve, develop and market small- medium/community based enterprises  Thrust toward diversification already underway

22. keron.niles@planning.gov.tt Advancing the Diversification Agenda in Trinidad & Tobago: UNLEASHING HUMAN IMAGINATION... Fostering Positive change Thanks for your attention.

23. Viccisitudes – 5m - Grenada

24. The Lost Correspondent – 8m Grenada

25. Culture and Heritage Tourism in 4C’s region of Trinidad